George Island and the Inian Islands, Alaska, 7/11/2024, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
Today was a beautiful gray day onboard National Geographic Quest. We spent our morning exploring George Island, where we hiked, kayaked, and stand-up paddle boarded.
Later, we picked up anchor and headed to the Inian Islands. We explored this incredible wildlife hotspot from our Zodiacs and were treated to views of Steller sea lions, sea otters, and countless birds. We even had a wonderful encounter with a humpback whale.
The earliest memories Shayne has are exploring the natural world. He joined his dad on his first 24 hour bird-a-thon at the age of three and was so fascinated that by five he was able to properly identify 40 birds of North America by call alone. He h...
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It was drizzling a bit as we made our way to the scenic anchorage at Kelp Bay. Through the drizzle, we were excited to see a sow brown bear with her two cubs fishing for salmon in the stream! It was a fantastic start to an amazing day. Our guests went on some beautiful hikes through the dense temperate rainforest, which had the fresh scent of rain and evergreens. One of the hikes led to a muskeg and a huge beaver pond. It was worth the effort to get there. During lunch, we repositioned National Geographic Quest to a bay near Hidden Falls where there is a salmon hatchery. At the hatchery, the air buzzed with activity as brown bears, Steller sea lions, and birds feasted on the salmon schooling at the fish ladder. The massive bears of varying ages and sizes stood poised to strike at the wriggling fish. They snatch their prey in their powerful paws and jaws. This time of year, the bears are hyper focused on feeding, so they can replenish their reserves before their winters sleep. Our viewing of the bears was a thrilling reminder of nature’s raw and untamed beauty.
We awoke this morning in Petersburg, Alaska. Petersburg was founded close to the Leconte Glacier so that the ice could be used to keep fish preserved, very important since more than half of the town of Petersburg is engaged in the fishing industry. We spent the day exploring the town of Petersburg and the muskeg on Kupreanof Island. There were two local guides that led hikes showcasing the beauty of the area. We also took Zodiac cruises to explore the harbor and ventured around town on a bike ride. After a full day of enjoying Petersburg, one of the local guides came onboard to tell us about Tlingit culture and history. Dinner was an amazing crab and rib feast, a very fitting dinner after spending the day in a town built by the seafood industry. The day drew to a close with a fascinating presentation just after sunset about salmon.
Sunrise occurred through the fog this morning aboard National Geographic Quest as we cruised the Five Fingers Region. The name derives from the arrangement of the islands when seen from above, as they resemble the phalanges of a hand. I like to think of them as the skeletal hand of Neptune looking to pull ships into the briny deep, hence the historic lighthouse on the south island. “Whale soup” was the theme of the morning, with numerous humpback whales around the island feeding on krill. The afternoon found the ship in Endicott Arm for a visit to Dawes Glacier, where we used the Zodiacs to get up-close-and-personal with the terminal face. The change of seasons is resulting in colder days, especially in the fjords, so a visit from the cocoa boat really warmed the cockles of our hearts.
